Scarred

It was this day that Somi found out something really horrible about his father. For some reason he used his father’s cell phone that day. His father hates it when anyone touches his phone. Browsing through the phone he went to the picture gallery…. and there he found obscene pictures of his father and a kid who looked familiar…. who he later remembered was his neighbour in the previous building they stayed a few years ago. Somi checked the date of the snap, it was just the day before.

Somi couldn’t take it. He wanted to puke, he felt so sick. He couldn’t think of anything. After some time…. he decides to tell his mother about it.

His mother was in the kitchen…Somi didn’t know how to tell her what her husband is up to. She turns around and in a surprise… “Oh, you are up so soon. Good... for once you’ll be early to college.”
“Ma, there’s something I need to tell you…but…uh…”
“haan haan…but first you have your breakfast…and..” moving to the drawing room, somi following her…
“no ma…I need to talk to u now…now”
“ok baba…tell me….what is it…hmm...how much money did you spend!?” both of them standing face to face next to the dinning table.
“No ma, listen now…u know how papa doesn’t like anyone touching his phone…and you never wondered why doesn’t he let anyone use his phone…even when it was an emergency…remember…”
“yah…what are u saying…you used papa’s phone…he’ll….”
“Ma I don’t care what he’ll do…do you know what I found in his phone…remember Nini...there were naked pictures of her in his phone…ma naked!!”
“Somi stop talking rubbish…. and why did u use his phone in the first place…” looking at him and arranging the plates on the table.
“Do you understand what I am saying…. you just heard what I said…and you are worried why did I use papa’s phone!! You don’t believe me ma…your own son…so you want to check it out…wait I’ll just bring his phone” he starts moving towards the bedroom…but she stops him..
“No, no…wait…shh...he'll get disturbed and will wake up in an angry mood. I…I.. know how papa is.” She turns and her back faces Somi.
“You do!! What do you mean, you are aware of all this!?!”
“No! I didn’t know this. But when Sanchi was little he…he did things…”
“What!! Gosh this is so sick…that bastard….with didi!! Didi.. ma…!! And in spite of that you let your husband choose a groom and arrange her marriage!! Ma how the hell could you!! You are still living with him…do you get it…your husband is a fucking asshole!!” and she turns abruptly n slaps him.
“Stop it!!….don’t talk abt your father like that.” Silence …. “I had no choice…. I just didn’t have any choice. I couldn’t do anything….I couldn’t go anywhere. I was expecting you…I left everyone, everything behind…” she sits down, head hanging low, hands at the edge of the table.
“I don’t know how can you respect that man…don’t give me that crap ma…. just don’t.” he grabs his bag from the side of the table, puts on his watch…n leaves the house banging the door behind.

She is sitting there silently…

Just then the father comes into the drawing room “What happened? Something fell?”
“Na it was just Somi…he left” she gets up, her eyes to the floor…. moves to the kitchen…and like a song, those lines play in her head … do u get it your husband is a fucking asshole!
“Laja…make my breakfast…I’ll leave early…I have a meeting.”
It goes on and on….while she is chopping onions….she is simultaneously thinking… meeting?… since when. He said it would never happen again. He promised. I had forgiven him. Is Somi right? Why would he make up something like that! I gave Neer his space…I didn’t doubt him after that… I trusted him. I trusted him…do u get it your husband is a fucking asshole! …what do I do…aaahhh…. what do I do…Somi I hope you are alright…please take care of yourself.

Neer is ready, sitting at the dinning table waiting impatiently for his breakfast…“Laja…I have to go…”
She gets the breakfast…places the tea carefully on the table…looks at him…he looks back...smiles…looks down n starts eating…she continues to look at him…with his mouth full…he looks at her…. and she stabs him!

Laja gets out of the house... there was no news about her.

Somi didn't return home that day... he didn't return ever.

Neer sustained the stab...but suffered later. Probably that is what Laja wanted.